This study examined the perceived ethnolinguistic vitality of Anglo-Australian and Vietnamese-Australian ethnic groups in Brisbane as measured by the modified Subjective Vitality Questionnaire (SVQ). Results of the confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the applicability of the SVQ to both high and low vitality groups. (30 references)…

College language departments report that, although enrollments in Spanish and some Pacific Rim languages are growing rapidly, declines are seen in French and German, traditionally popular, and in many less commonly taught languages. Students are motivated by practical considerations: many find their employment potential is increased by language…

To find out which context variables relate to improvement in the second-language acquisition of migrant children in West Germany, a longitudinal study with a follow-up design with Turkish elementary school students was set up. The study was carried out using standardized tests and by conducting interviews with the pupils, their parents and…

Examines in broad terms the Science with Japanese Program at Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, and evaluates the success of this program in terms of academic achievement and relevance to future employment. (12 references) (GLR)

A database used in an analysis of writing errors of Swedish university students is discussed, including the major grammatical and vocabulary errors discovered. This study is compared with others, including a study of the writing errors of students from a variety of first-language backgrounds. Applications and directions for future research are…

Presents case study of Chinese student of English for Academic Purposes (EAP), displaying very dependent learning approach that focusing on obtaining teacher approval and giving single "right" answer. Suggests that EAP tutors should understand not only individual students as members of particular language or cultural group, but also individual…

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that predict the first- and second-language proficiency of ethnic minority children at the age of six. Results of the study show two dimensions that underlie children's proficiency in either language: communicative skills versus cognitive/academic skills. (45 references) (JL)

Examination and comparison of the forms and functions of the passive structures used by native and second-language writers of English and Japanese yielded strong empirical proof of definite interplay and transfer of native language form and function to the target language, resulting in awkward, if not completely incorrect, sentences. (27…

Examination of the first language (Japanese or Chinese) and second-language reading and writing abilities of adult English-as-a-Second-Language learners indicated that literacy skills could transfer across the first and second languages, although the pattern of transfer varied for the subjects. Reading ability appeared to transfer more easily than…

A study examined the effects of differing degrees of bilingualism (English monolingual, English-French balanced bilingual, Bengali-English partial bilingual) on nonverbal problem-solving abilities of 71 grade-three children. The groups were compared on control of attention and analysis of knowledge. Results indicate the balanced bilinguals…

Reports preliminary findings of an ongoing study of prosodic mixes in the speech of three trilingual siblings. The children are primary bilinguals in Portuguese and Swedish, and acquired English as the language of schooling. Prosodic mixes are defined as the intrusion of prosodic patterns of one language into another.(Author/VWL)

To find out more about bilingual children's narrative discourse acquisition, study analyzes and compares the oral narrative discourse of bilingual and monolingual 5- to 10-year-olds in two ways. Uses Labov's taxonomy to measure evaluation, and shema theory to do an episodic analysis of elicited narratives. Argues that these frameworks serve to…

Chronicles efforts of faculty members at the institutions of the Associated Colleges of the South to create "Sunoikisis," a virtual department of Greek and Roman Studies. The long-term goal of the project is to expand the academic opportunities available to undergraduates at small liberal arts colleges for studying the languages, literatures, and…

Explores the attrition of different aspects of Swedish grammar. Empirical data from bilingual expatriate students are compared to data from monolingual Swedish aphasic patients. The students' noun phrase morphology had undergone attrition, but not their word order. For the aphasics, word order attrition was combined with unaffected noun phrase…

Questions current practices and points to new directions in research on student beliefs about second-language acquisition. Definitions and various studies made within the current approach are reviewed, relevant developments in the social sciences are outlined, and alternatives are suggested for the present definitions and research methodologies.…